Multicolor recording apparatus

Claim 2

A multicolor recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of independently drivable recording means of the same color; and a distributor for distributing and supplying recording liquid of said color to said plurality of recording means of the same color, said distributor including a plurality of communication holes for distributing and supplying the recording liquid to the respective said recording means, the opening areas of said communication holes for the liquid distribution and supply being variable in a predetermined relationship with each other.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein that said distributor has a liquid chamber to which said recording liquid of the same color is supplied and a plurality of communication holes formed in the peripheral wall of a cylinder forming said liquid chamber at different positions relative to the circumferential direction of said cylinder to supply the recording liquid of the same color in said liquid chamber toward respective ones of said recording means of the same color, and the opening areas of said plurality of communication holes are variable by rotating the peripheral wall of said cylinder about the axis of said cylinder.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said communication holes can be set fully open while the other of said communication holes is set fully closed.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all of said communication holes can be set to be fully closed.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid supplying system, said system including: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid; pumping means for pressure supplying the liquid in said reservoir to said recording means; first means defining a first liquid passage for placing said reservoir in communication with said distributor; second means defining a second liquid passage for placing said reservoir in communication with said pumping means; first valve means disposed in said first liquid passage for preventing backflow of the liquid therein toward said reservoir; and second valve means disposed in said second liquid passage for preventing backflow of the liquid therein toward said reservoir, the flow resistance of said first valve means in a forward direction in which the liquid is to be discharged from said reservoir being smaller than that of said second valve means.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said liquid supplying system further includes third means defining a third liquid passage for placing said pumping means in communication with said distributor and third valve means disposed in said third liquid passage for preventing backflow of the liquid therein toward said pumping means.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid supplying system, said system including: a liquid chamber for storing the liquid to be supplied to said recording means; a container chamber formed above said liquid chamber for receiving a supplemental liquid tank for storing supplemental liquid; a first communication passage for enabling said liquid chamber to communicate with the atmosphere; a communication hole for engaging with a liquid supplementing passage of the supplemental liquid tank at the time the supplemental liquid tank is placed in said container chamber, so as to supplementally supply liquid into said liquid chamber; and a second communication passage disposed outside of said container chamber for communicating with a communication passage of the supplemental liquid tank so as to place the supplemental liquid tank in communication with said liquid chamber.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said liquid supplying system further includes means for enabling said second communication passage to place said liquid chamber in communication with the supplemental tank until the liquid level in said liquid chamber reaches a predetermined value.